Apparatus for treating liquids and gases



Sept 1934- A. F. CLARKE APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS AND GASES 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

M a n c 6 W p ee K By JV ZZ May Czar/{e Sept. 11, 1934. A. F. CLARKE\ APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS AND GASES Original Fil ed June 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14.}? Czar/f6, Dcc'd jVe-ZZ May C gar/(g (X., W6 5. 23%

err-so STATES PATENT orrlcs APPARATUS roe TREATING LIQUIDS AND GASES Arthur F. Clarke, deceased, late of Tulsa, Okla., by Nell May Clarke, executrix, Tulsa, Okla.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 565,899, September 29, 1931, which in turn was a division of application Serial No. 373,636, June 25, 1929. This application February 2, 1934, Serial No. 709,529 1 7 Claims. (Cl. 251-112) This invention relates to improvements in ap- Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of paratus oi the type used for contacting liquids Fig. 5. and gases or for separating mixtures of liquids In the embodiment of the invention illustrated and gases. in Figs. 1 to i inclusive, 10 indicates the shell of This case is a refile for abandoned application an absorption tower or rectifying column, which No. 565,899 filed Sept. 29, 1931-, which abandoned is provided with superposed decks 11, 12, 13 havapplication was in turn a division of an applicaing suitable apertures 14 through which gas intion No. 373,636 filed June 25, 1929, and since troduced into the column rises. The liquid inmatured into Patent No. 1,846,248. troduced into the column through a pipe 15, flows These improvements may be employed with over the upper deck, and then descends through @5 absorption towers, rectifying columns, oil and trap pipes 16, to the second deck 12. The liquid gas separators, or the like. In such apparatus, flows over this deck and is discharged over a the gas in the tower rises and the liquid descends, weir 1'7, into a passageway 1,8, which conveys the and one of the objects of the invention is to comliquid to the third deck 13. Liquid flowing over 15 blue with such a tower or column, a mist exthis deckwill pass over aweir 19, into a passage- 7 tractor for positively separating entrained liquid way 20, which conducts it to the next lower deck from the gas, just before the gas is discharged and so on. The bubble caps which it is preferred. from the top of the tower. The improved mist to employ, are of the type shown in U. S. Patent extractor which is claimed and described in #1,8'l8, l6'l, dated Sept. 20, 1932, and the gas after United States Patent No. 1,846,248, Feb. 23, 1932, passing through tangential slits 21, in these caps, t5 removes from the gas or vapor whatever liquid. whirls through the liquid on the decks, and is may be carried into the mist extractor zone by the finally discharged through the gas or vapor out" gas. let 22 at the top of the column.

Another object is to combine such a mist exin absorption towers, rectifying columns or the 25 tractor with a bubble cap, nozzle, nipple or other like, the rising gas or vapor may carry some en- 3 suitable appliance or port in a deck arranged in trained liquid, and as it is desirable to separate the column, such extractor having a spiral bafiie such liquid from the gases or vapors leaving the on which the entrained liquid collects as the gas column, each bubble cap on the top deck is prowhirls through the mist extractor. vided with a mist extractor 23. Such extractor With the foregoing objects outlined and with is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and preferably 86 other objects in view which will appear as the consists of afrusto-conical tube 24 havingaspiral description proceeds, the invention consists in the thread or bafie 25 arranged on its inner surface. novel features hereinafter described in detail, As the gas or vapors are discharged by the bubble illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and cap into the tube 24, the spiral bafile acts to whirl more particularly pointed out in the appended the gas and cause the deposit of entrained liquid 90 claims. on the inner surface of the tube and on the bafie, Referring to the draw due to centrifugal action. The liquid thus 001- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the upper lected, gravitates down the interior of the tube portion of a rectifying column or absorption and is finally deposited in the liquid pool on the 40 tower, and showing the improved mist extractors deck. To permit this, the tube is provided with applied v bl ps on the top deck of the notches 26 at its lower edge, to allow free pascolumn. sage of liquid along the deck, to and from the Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line interior of the tube. Each tube is preferably pro- -2-2 of Fig. 1. vided with a pair of apertured ears 2'7, to receive 45 Fi 3 is a nl ed s ctio a view o one of any suitable fastening devices, such as rivets 2a, the mist extractors and bubble caps. that may be employed to secure the mist extractor Fig. 4: is a vertical sectional view of the same to the deck, It may be seen from Figs, 3 and 4 on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3,'and showing a bubble that the tangential ports 21 of the bubble caps on cap in full lines, arranged therein. the top deck function to whirl the rising gas 50 Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in vertical secthrough the liquid on that deck, and as the spiral tion of an oil and gas separator provided with the baffles 25 are arranged to coincide with the direcimproved mist extractors. tion of movement of the gas, this whirling action Fig. 6 is a top plan view of, the same. of the gas will be continued until the gas is dis- Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view on the line charged from the upper end of the extractors,

' 55 'Z-'7 of Fig. 5. Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, show an improved type of shell are horizontal decks 34, and 36 which are secured in position by any suitable, means. A

perforated pipe 37 extends downwardly through the lower deck, and it functions to convey gas and entrained liquids from the zone below the lower I deck to the zone above the lower deck. Any condensate or liquid deposited on the lower deck will overflow downwardly through the pipe 38 into the lower end of the shell. This pipe is suspended from the deck 36 by any suitable means. At this point it will be noted that the deck 36 is imperforate with the exception of the two apertures with which it is provided to accommodate'the pipes 37 and 38. The decks 34 and 35 are substantially alike, and each has a number of circularly arranged series of apertures 39 to accommodate the rising gas and vapors so. that such gas and vapors may move from one zone to the next higher zone, and so on; and each series of these apertures is combined with one of the improved mist extractors 40 of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4,,

so that the gas and vapor rising through the decks will be whirled by the spirals of the mist extractors to cause precipitation of the entrained vention, the mixture of oil in the mist extractors 40, so that liquids which will be discharged through the notches 41 on to the deck. Liquid deposited on the upper deck, flows downwardlythrough a pipe 42 on to the lower deck,- and liquid deposited on the intermediate deck, flows downwardly on to the lower deck through a pipe 43.

In the operation of this embodiment of the inand gas enters the shell through the inlet 31, and due to the tangential arrangement of this inlet, and the circular internal surface of the shell, the mixture will be whirled so that the major portion of the liquid will be deposited on the inner surface of the shell, due to centrifugal force. Of course, this liquid will gravitate to the bottom portion of the shell. After this initial or rough separation, the gas with entrained liquid rises through the perforated pipe 37, and owing to the perforations being small, an additional amount of the liquid will be separated from the gas, and this liquid will also flow down into the lower end of the shell. The gas and entrained liquid discharging from the upper end of the pipe 37, now rise through the series of ports 39 in the deck 35, andare whirled by the baflles there is a further separation of oil from the gas. The oil thus separated, flows through the notches 41, on to the deck 35, and finally overflows through the pipe 43. The gas, from which practically all of l the liquid has now been separated, then rises through the apertures 39 of the top deck, where the, separating 42. The gas finally freed of entrained liquid, is discharged through the pipe 32.

In the foregoing description, preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth,

ing means to deck to permit a gaseous action is continued, and the licfliid deposited on this deck overflows through the pipe- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a deck over which liquid may flow, ports in the deck to permit gas to rise through the same, and mist extractors positioned on top of the deck to receive g rising through the ports, each mist extractor comprising an annular wall and being provided internally with means for whirling the rising gas for centrifugally precipitating entrained liquids within the extractor, each extractor havpermit the liquid to flow through the lower end of the wall thereof. 2. In an apparatus of the character described, a deck over which liquid may flow, ports in the deck to permit-a gaseous mixture to rise therethrough, bubble caps arranged on the deck and cooperating with said ports, and mist extractors surrounding the bubble caps and provided with means for centrifugally separating entrained liquid from the gaseous mixture after it has passed through the ports and bubble caps.

3. In an apparatus'of the character described, a deck over which liquid may flow, means to permit a gaseous mixture to flow through the deck, a

and cooperating and a mist exbubble cap arranged on the deck with the last mentioned means,

tractor arranged on the deck and surrounding the means for cenliquid from the character described,

" uid from the rising gaseous mixture.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a deck over which liquid may flow, a port in the mixture to flow through the deck, a bubble cap mounted on the deck and cooperating with said port, and a mist extractor mounted on the deck cap, said mist extractor comprising a tubular member of frusto-conical shape provided with an internal spiral baiile, and having an opening at its lower end to allow liquid to flow through the wall of the tubular member.

6. An oil and gas separator including a shell, apertured decks arranged in spaced relation within the shell, and mist extractors" mounted on the decks and cooperating with the apertures of the deck to permit a gaseous mixture to rise within the shell, each ,mist extractor comprising an annular wall and being provided with an internal spiral baiile, the wall having an aperture to permit liquid to flow through said wall.

'7. In an oil and gas separator, a shell, spaced horizontal decks arranged in the 'shell and provided with ports to permit a gaseous mixture to rise through the decks, and mist extractors mounted on the decks and cooperating with said ports, each mist extractor being of frtisto-conical tubular form and provided internally with a spiral baflle and having apertures at its lower end to permit liquid to flow through the same.

the Estate ceased.

and surrounding the bubble and provided with 

